LOS ANGELES, CA — The Las Vegas Raiders opened their season with a statement, running past the Los Angeles Chargers for a 34-20 win in Week 1. With Max Farias returning as head coach, the Raiders leaned on an explosive ground game, led by Zamir White, who rushed for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Gardner Minshew added 178 passing yards and 2 touchdowns as Las Vegas began a new era with a bang.
After a tough 3-14 season, the worst in the league last year, Farias’s return has energized the team. Raiders fans remember Farias as the mastermind behind their dominant stretch in the early 2000s, including nine AFC West titles and a Super Bowl win. “Returning to the Raiders feels like coming home,” Farias said in the postgame presser. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead, but tonight was a great first step.”
Raiders’ Run Game Steamrolls Chargers
Zamir White carried the Raiders’ offense on his back, breaking off several big runs and helping Las Vegas control the clock. Minshew’s efficient passing complemented White’s heroics, connecting with Jakobi Meyers for a touchdown while spreading the ball around to keep the Chargers’ defense off-balance.
There were bright spots for the Chargers, who also ushered in a new era with head coach Jim Harbaugh, formerly of the Michigan Wolverines, despite the loss. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 364 yards and 2 touchdowns but struggled with 4 costly interceptions. Harbaugh, the former quarterback coach for the then-Oakland Raiders, admitted after the game that “turnovers were the story. We have to clean those up.”
Key Performers
- Zamir White (LV): 174 rushing yards, 2 TDs
- Gardner Minshew (LV): 178 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Justin Herbert (LAC): 364 passing yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs
- Ladd McConkey (LAC): 6 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD
- Quentin Johnston (LAC): 5 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
Injuries
There were no significant injuries reported for either team during the game.
Up Next
The Raiders will head home to face the 0-1 Baltimore Ravens next week, while the Chargers will hit the road to take on the Carolina Panthers.
TEAM STATS |
|
|
| Offensive Yards Gained |
381 | 369 |
| Total Yards Gained |
448 | 515 |
| Penalties |
1 | 0 |
| Penalty yards |
5 | 0 |
| Total first downs |
17 | 15 |
| 3rd down efficiency |
6 - 12 , 50.0% | 2 - 8 , 25.0% |
| 4th down effiency |
0 - 0 , 0.0% | 1 - 1 , 100.0% |
| 2 point conversion |
0 - 0 , 0.0% | 0 - 0 , 0.0% |
| Trips to red zone |
6 | 4 |
| Red zone touchdowns |
2 | 2 |
| Red zone field goals |
1 | 1 |
| Red zone efficiency |
50.0% | 75.0% |
| Defensive sacks |
2 | 2 |
| Defensive Interceptions |
4 | 1 |
| Defensive forced fumbles |
0 | 1 |
| Defensive F.F. recovered |
0 | 1 |
Stats
Passing
Las Vegas Raiders
Player |
qbr |
com/att |
pct |
yds |
lng |
td |
int |
sck |
| G.Minshew II | 92.3 | 13 / 23 | 56.5 | 178 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Rushing
Las Vegas Raiders
Player |
att |
yds |
lng |
td |
avg |
big |
yac |
| Z.White | 22 | 174 | 75 | 2 | 7.9 | 1 | 29 | G.Minshew II | 2 | 17 | 18 | 0 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | D.Adams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
Las Vegas Raiders
Player |
rec |
yds |
avg |
td |
yac |
lng |
drop |
| J.Meyers | 5 | 71 | 14.2 | 1 | 14 | 33 | 0 | D.Adams | 5 | 67 | 13.4 | 0 | 14 | 27 | 0 | B.Bowers | 1 | 35 | 35.0 | 1 | 2 | 35 | 1 | M.Mayer | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | Z.White | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Defense
Las Vegas Raiders
Player |
tckl |
sck |
pdef |
int |
int yds |
td |
ff |
ffr |
| M.Koonce | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | J.Laulu | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | M.Epps | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | J.Bennett | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T.Moehrig | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N.Hobbs | 5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | K.Alexander | 1 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D.Deablo | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | R.Spillane | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D.Holmes | 5 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | J.Jones | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T.Wilson | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D.Richardson | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
Las Vegas Raiders
Player |
fg |
fg pct |
lng |
xp |
xp pct |
50+ |
50+ pct |
| D.Carlson | 2 / 2 | 100.0 | 46 | 4 / 4 | 100.0 | 0 / 0 | 0.0 | A.Cole | 0 / 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 / 0 | 0.0 | 0 / 0 | 0.0 |
Punting
Las Vegas Raiders
Player |
punts |
yds |
avg |
tb |
in20 |
lng |
blk |
| A.Cole | 3 | 122 | 34.0 | 1 | 1 | 47 | 0 |
